File for keeping papers



'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN D. DODD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FILE FOR KEEPING PAPERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7,018, dated January 15, 1850.

To all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, EDWIN D. DoDD, of the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Apparatus, called a Paper Filer or Holder and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof,

ness community, to make any contrivance valuable however simple which attains them and thereby facilitates the dispatch of business.

Various arrangements have been in use having for their object the preservation and convenient disposal of papers filed away for current business or future reference, but not one of them so far as known to me, possessing all the requisites of the case-for instance boxes closed on all sides except the back end have been employed but these, besides being apt to shed their contents on hasty withdrawal from the shelf or pigeon hole do not present the papers in convenient form for reference and this diliculty is but little lessened by making the top to consist of a lid hinged in front for the papers not being held down across the middle are not sufficiently compact to be handled with dispatch. This latter objection is however overcome where the pocket is bound with a string or band around the middle, but this arrangement precludes the ready abstraction or replacement of any paper.

The chief requisites in a receptacle of oflice papers are conceived to be-facility of reference-readiness of abstraction and insertion-portabilityand protect-ion of the contents from dust All these requisites are combined as I believe for the first time in my invention, and are attained by the following arrangement of parts.

The top of the box (a b) consists of two parts the stationary portion (a) extending only about half way from the front (c) of the box backward. To this part (a) at its back edge the other port (b) is hinged (d) and thus forms a lid capable of being folded back upon the forward part. The sides (e) of the box also terminate somewhat short of the, back end leaving openings (f) in the manner represented. The back end (g) forms another lid and being hinged to the bottom (n) swings out of the way when released being impelled so to do by small studs (i) which exert a slight outward stress against the lid when closed-but the hinge may be made to perform a similar office.

From the top edge of the lid g) projects a catch (j) bending outward and in the lid (b) near its back edge, there is an aperture (is) adapted to receive the aforementioned catch. The studs (i) project just so much back as to necessitate the springing of the lid (g) slightly inward in order to introduce the catch within the aperture, so that the elastic reaction of the lid (g) tends to retain the catch within the aperture, and holds the lids shut, in whatever position'the box be placed.

The front (o) of the box has two strips (m) forming a frame for the reception of a card on which an index of the contents may be written. There is a ring (u) below the card by which to withdraw the box from its shelf and the staple of the ring may be made to form a rest for the card. The openings in the sides may be closed by doors if desired.

The size of the box will of course be regulated by that of the documents thus for the usual foolscap document the interior lateral dimensions will be adapted to the sheet when folded for indorsement, and the height may be made to take any desired tilesay about that of an ordinary pigeon hole. It may be made of wood paper or tin; the latter is preferred (japanned).

This contrivance may if desired be made to supersede and dispense with the ordinary pigeon holes. Papers, when deposited in the box should of course have their titles or labels uppermost and at the after end of the box, in order that they may appear when the lid (b) is folded back. Supposing the box occupied with papers disposed as above cited, and it is desired to examine the contents, the lids being liberated by a light inward pressure against the lid (g) and the lid (b) being folded back, the fingers of the right hand are introduced Within the right hand side opening and the papers (being held down at their midlength by the back edge of the piece (a) and the openings (f) on the left side facilitating the inspection of the titles) are manipulated and read off, With at least equal facility t-o vthose Which are made fast in a bundle, and yet are as readily abstracted and replaced as those contained in any open box. Added to all this, the apparatus When closedl retains its contents in perfect security, and can be conveyed from place to place Without' the loss of a single paper When required by business or rendered necessary by conflagration or other- Wise a feature of itself of no mean importance. l

Having thus fully described my invention EDWIN D. DODD.v

Witnesses:

JAS.v L. SINGER, EDWARD H. KNIGHT. 

